ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202

C.P. O’NEILL PAPERS

COLLECTION: OGL #970

DATES: 1911-1986

SIZE: 4 linear feet

INTRODUCTION

ACQUISITION: The C.P. O’Neill Papers were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection by C.P. O'Neill on May 22, 1984 (Acc. #84-1295).

ACCESS: Available for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Cyril P. O'Neill was born February 5, 1911, in Ardoch, N.D., the son of Frank and Sarah O'Neill. His family moved to Grand Forks when he was five years old. He attended St. Michaels Grade School, St. James High School, and the University of North Dakota from 1928 until 1930. From 1931 until 1933, he worked for the North Dakota State Mill in the Grain Inspection Department. In 1934, he began his career with Northern States Power Co. as a steam plant fireman and rose through the ranks, retiring in 1976 as superintendent.

An athlete as a youth, he played hockey and softball and was a member of the North Dakota state championship softball team in 1933. On November 8, 1934 he married Adeline Fiala and they had five children, Sarah, Susan, Peggy, Timothy, and Peter. O'Neill served in World War II from July 1943 to December 1945 in the 123rd Construction Battalion (SeaBees), U.S. Navy. He was discharged at the rank of Chief Petty Officer.

In 1947, he was appointed 4th Ward Alderman to finish the term of the late Ben Shue. He was elected Alderman in 1948, re-elected in 1952 and 1956. He lost the election of 1960, but was re- elected again in 1964 and 1968. O'Neill was elected mayor in 1972 and re-elected in 1976. He declined to run for office in 1980 and retired from public service. After retiring from office, O'Neill and his wife Addie opened O'Neill's Wood'n You Finish furniture store. He died on August 1, 1986.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The C.P. O'Neill Papers were received unorganized and have been re-arranged into two series:

SERIES I: Personal
The first series includes biographical material, correspondence, family memorabilia and scrapbooks. The folders are arranged alphabetically by subject. Box 1, Folder 1 - Box 1, Folder 7

SERIES II: Mayor
This series primarily contains material from O'Neill's two terms as Mayor of Grand Forks from 1972-1980. The folders contain personal papers, city documents, newspaper clippings, desk diaries and photographs. The collection does not contain a complete day to day file of Mayor O'Neill's terms of office, but reflects high points in his career as mayor or significant improvements to the city of Grand Forks. The Southside Annexation issue of 1973-1975 and the Columbia Road Overpass issue of 1969-1980 are fairly well documented. O'Neill's re-election campaign of 1976 file contains information about city issues of the time.

84 photographs were separated and added to the Orin G. Libby Photograph Collection.

BOX AND FOLDER INVENTORY

SERIES I: Personal
Box 1
Folder

  1. Biography.
  2. Correspondence: Personal.
  3. Correspondence: Personal.
  4. Family Calendars, 1972, 1973.
  5. Family Memorabilia
  6. Scrapbook - C.P. O'Neill.
  7. Scrapbook - C.P. O'Neill.

SERIES II: Mayor

  1. City - Appointments and Engagements, 1972-1973.
  2. City - Appointments and Engagements, 1974 - 1975.
  3. City - Appointments and Engagements, 1976-1979.
  4. City - Airport, 1971-1975.
  5. City - Building Inspections, 1972-1975.
  6. City - Columbia Road Overpass, Correspondence, 1969-1980.
  7. City - Columbia Road Overpass, Financing.
  8. City - Community Development Reports, 1974-1975.
  9. City - Fire Department, 1973-1975.
  10. City - Floods, 1975, 1974, Before.
  11. City - Floods, insurance and zoning, 1971-1976.

Box 2
Folder

  1. City - History.
  2. City - Home Rule, 1970.
  3. City - Housing Authority, 1972-1976.
  4. City - Parking Authority, 1975-1977. 2
  5. City - Parks, Bike Lanes, 1973-1975.
  6. City - Personnel., 1970-1975.
  7. City - Planning, 1973-1975.
  8. City - Police/Police Station, 1971-1975
  9. City - Politics, 1974.
  10. City - Politics, Election of 1976.
  11. City - Revenue Sharing, 1972-1975.
  12. City - Southside Annexation, 1973-1975.
  13. City - Urban Renewal, 1969-1976.
  14. City - Water, 1971-1976.
  15. City Center Businesses, 1973-1975.
  16. County Commission, 1976-1977.
  17. Desk Diary, 1973.
  18. Desk Diary, 1974.
  19. Desk Diary, 1975.
  20. Desk Diary, 1978.
  21. Desk Diary, 1979.

Box 3
Folder

  1. Desk Diary, 1980
  2. Memorabilia, General.
  3. Memorabilia, General.
  4. Memorabilia, General.
  5. Memorabilia, Grand Forks Air Force Base.
  6. Newsletters.
  7. Newspaper Clippings, Pre-1971.
  8. Newspaper Clippings, 1972.
  9. Newspaper Clippings, 1973.
  10. Newspaper Clippings, 1974.
  11. Newspaper Clippings, 1975.
  12. Newspaper Clippings, 1976.
  13. Newspaper Clippings, 1977-1979.
  14. Newspaper Clippings, 1980.
  15. Newspaper Clippings, undated.
  16. Desk Set - Columbia Mall Grand Opening, August 2, 1978.

OVERSIZE

  1. Scrapbook - Mayor C.P. O'Neill Recognition Day, April 25, 1980.

SEPARATIONS RECORD

Photographic File
Folder

  1. Airports.
  2. Airviews, Bridges, Events.
  3. Businesses.
  4. Businesses, Families, Fires.
  5. Fire Department, Floods, Government Figures.
  6. Government Figures, Groups, Personalities.
  7. Hospital, Politics, Military.
  8. Military, Political Figures.
  9. Political Figures.

Return to: Grand Forks History
Return to: Politics

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